Two heads of the Circular Motion mascot (Muti) face to face intersecting. Next to it, written "Circular Movement"

logo-landscape-2-en.svg

Media

Flix Media

Porvir Media

The **World Environmental Education Day** celebrates a milestone in the debate on the transformation power of **education** to lessen the impact of human activity on the environment.

We are talking about the creation of *International Environmental Education Program*, the result of a meeting held by Unesco in 1975, known as the 'Belgrade Meeting'.

This meeting brought about and established the **celebration date** (January 26) and a series of discussions, which little by little made clearer the political, cultural, social and **economical** of environmental education.   

> “In this direction, rethinking the dominant economic model, [the linear one], highly impactful for the environment and for people, is regarded as fundamental in this transformation, inspiring a more **circular model of economy**”, adds our pedagogical coordinator, Prof. Dr. Edson Grandisoli.

Shall we find out more about this?

### Environmental Education and Circularity: How to understand this relationship?

Both environmental education and the [Circular Economy](https://movimentocircular.io/en/educacao) seek to understand human activities and propose solutions to the impacts of our relationship with the environment, including all actors in society.

But this happens on different levels:

Environmental education is on a broader level. Can move in many different ways that are **interdisciplinary and transversal**.

Ideas and actions based on circularity, on the other hand, occur at a specific level that generally includes the [**goods production companies and consumer behavior**] in the current economic model, the linear one (extraction-production-disposal). Thus, it promotes an [**education for circularity**](https://movimentocircular.io/en/educacao/industria-era-circular), which also needs to be connected to sociocultural and political dimensions.

Despite this, according to Grandisoli, the participation of companies in the discussion is still restricted.

> “Environmental education has been seen more as linked to schools, to teaching. We deal with education for circularity to bring companies closer to the discussion. It is an excellent model, because it makes other sectors responsible”, says the professor.

### Responsibility: An Old Challenge

Discussions on the concept of environmental education and circularity have been going on for over **six decades**. Agreements, legislation, documents and actions were being produced throughout all this time, but, according to Grandisoli, the **dialogue between different sectors of society** has still not grown enough.

> “The actors propose their solutions, put them into practice and everything is always very segmented and fragmented. I think that a fundamental point that the Circular Economy brings is precisely that we start to think about solutions in a more integrated way. Since the problem is systemic, we must think of systemic solutions”, comments the professor.

*The Environmental Education Treaty for Sustainable Societies and Global Responsibility* of Eco-92 (UN, 1992) has among its principles that:

> “The responsibility for preserving natural resources indicated by the Treaty is global. That is, society, government officials, educators, scientists and businessmen must follow and comply with environmental standards”.

That is, it is in this direction that we have to follow and, as a reference, we can mirror ourselves in actions that nourish everyone's co-responsibility and participation. How:

**Circle Challenge…**

![DesafioCircular-vencedores (1).png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Desafio_Circular_vencedores_1_cf908db729/Desafio_Circular_vencedores_1_cf908db729.png)

The winners of the last edition of this [Circular Movement project](https://movimentocircular.io/en/noticias/the-power-of-education-in-the-circular-economy) managed to integrate school, community and companies in a project to finance pedagogical excursions, through the sale of used oil for recycling.

**...Circular Lab Talks…**

![Circular Labs Talks 1.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Circular_Labs_Talks_1_c153638626/Circular_Labs_Talks_1_c153638626.jpg)

Also, an [initiative by *Movimento Circular*](https://movimentocircular.io/en/noticias/2022-circular-movement-) retrospective with our partners at Earth & Life University and Lealtad Verde, brought together the academic world and Mexican leaders in the plastics industry at conferences to talk about innovations in waste management and discuss new strategies for community involvement.

**... and look at this initiative by a public school student in Ceará**

![IrrigaPET.PNG](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Irriga_PET_83fd1482c2/Irriga_PET_83fd1482c2.png)

Realizing the difficulty faced by farmers in the rural area of Granja, in the interior of Ceará, during periods of drought, high school student Francisco Nycollas Machado Guarinho [created an irrigation system using PET bottles](https://www.instagram.com/p/CnhpLokpudT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link) .

A project inspired by the school, attentive to the needs of the community and the reuse of waste so that it does not turn into garbage or is disposed of incorrectly.

(See actions taken by our partners on the [Map of Initiatives](https://movimentocircular.io/en/iniciativas) on our platform)

***
On this World Environmental Education Day, there is a reflection on how we should still have a holistic view of our multiple relationships with the environment.

> "It is fundamental to create more democratic instances of dialogue that guarantee a voice to different actors in society so that together we can seek solutions to challenges that, in fact, are common”, concludes Professor Grandisoli.

**What is the circular economy?**

The Circular Economy proposes a new look at our way of producing, consuming, and disposing, in order to optimize the planet's resources and generate less and less waste. In other words, an alternative model to the Linear Economy - to extract, produce, use and discard - which has proved to be increasingly unsustainable throughout history. In the Circular Economy, the goal is to keep materials in circulation longer by reusing them until nothing becomes waste! For this model to become a reality, we all have a role to play. It is a true collaborative circle, which feeds itself, and helps to regenerate the planet and our relations.

**Learn about Circular Economy**

If you are interested in learning more about this topic, visit [**Circular Academy**](https://academy.movimentocircular.io/?lang=en), the first free Latin American course on circular economy aimed at general audiences. All of us, in partnership and collaboration, can make a difference in building a more circular planet.










Let's get to know the origin, the relationship with the Circular Economy and examples of how it can bring benefits to the environment and people

World Enviromental Education Day

It's time to celebrate what we've achieved together so far!

We reached the mark of more than 930 thousand people impacted by Circular Movement, 60 actions performed and 52 partners from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia! 
See the highlights of the year in this top 10 that we set up: 

### 1. Expansion of Circular Academy
Our first open school of Circular Economy in Latin America reached more than 1.8 thousand subscribers and expanded its reach through customized editions for partners and collaborators, such as Valgroup, BrasAlpla, Soft Film and Fiap. 

### 2. Award for a world without waste with Febrace
![IIPremioPorUmMundoSemLixoParceriaFebraceSP-abril22.jpeg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/II_Premio_Por_Um_Mundo_Sem_Lixo_Parceria_Febrace_SP_abril22_453f59586b/II_Premio_Por_Um_Mundo_Sem_Lixo_Parceria_Febrace_SP_abril22_453f59586b.jpeg)

We awarded the four best finalist scientific initiation works of the Brazilian Science and Engineering Fair (Febrace), which dialogued with the topic of Circularity. The 1st place went to the student Victórya Leal Altmayer Silva, from IFRS - Campus Osório (RS), with the project em: [Eco-socius: the behavior of young people from the north coast of Rio Grande do Sul in the circular economy](https://virtual.febrace.org.br/2022/SOC/284/).

### 3. Circular Economy Week in São Paulo
![Semana de Economia Circular.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Semana_de_Economia_Circular_9ad80536df/Semana_de_Economia_Circular_9ad80536df.jpg)

In May, we participated in the 1st Circular Economy Week in São Paulo, in the panels "[Education and Circular Economy](https://youtu.be/ZsfZICoB_OU?t=1049)" and "[The Importance of Innovation for the Circular Economy"](https://youtu.be/o1Gkw5mp5yM). Initiative promoted by the City of São Paulo together with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) and the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI).

### 4. Movement in the National Geographic!
![MC na National Geographic Brasil (1).png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/MC_na_National_Geographic_Brasil_1_d26de10e64/MC_na_National_Geographic_Brasil_1_d26de10e64.png)

We expand our educational potential through the press, adding 550 inserts, including interviews, reports and articles by our spokespersons for radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, channels and podcasts. 
Highlight for the National Geographic, who [interviewed](https://movimentocircular.io/en/noticias/circular-movement-in-national-geographic) our pedagogical coordinator, Prof. Dr. Edson Grandisoli, along with the director of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation for Latin America and the Caribbean, Luisa Santiago.

### 5. Greater digital reach 
Our new Instagram profiles have already reached more than 214 thousand people on the network, with profiles in [Portuguese](https://www.instagram.com/_movimentocircular/) and in [Spanish](https://www.instagram.com/_movimientocircular/). And our platform, which is up to date, with new features and faster loading, has reached more than 250 thousand hits.

### 6. Partner Meetings 
![Circular Experience.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Circular_Experience_11da911a33/Circular_Experience_11da911a33.jpg)

In August, we held the first : [Circular Experience](https://movimentocircular.io/en/noticias/2nd-meeting-of-circular-movement-partners) A face-to-face meeting, in São Paulo, with more than 70 people, including partners and guests, in a hands-on prototyping activity, at Coopercaps headquarters, understanding how the recycling chain works. 

### 7. Muti's first book!
![Livro MUTI.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Livro_MUTI_e0821ae0dd/Livro_MUTI_e0821ae0dd.png)

In October, we launched our first publication dedicated to children and youth: the book "[The Fabulous Journey of Muti and the Libelautas](https://movimentocircular.io/en/noticias/the-fabulous-journey-of-muti-and-the-libelautas). In 2023 we will have other news about the book. Stay tuned!

### 8. Circular Challenge São Paulo 2022
![Desafio Circular SP22-RecycleWays.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Desafio_Circular_SP_22_Recycle_Ways_6e3622a3e8/Desafio_Circular_SP_22_Recycle_Ways_6e3622a3e8.png)

The Circular Challenge reached its 4th edition. In partnership with Dow and Coopercaps and support from Centro Paula Souza (CPS) and the Government of São Paulo, we connected the circular agenda to the curriculum of 9th graders and high school students. Of the 5 finalists, the project “[RecycleWays](https://movimentocircular.io/en/noticias/the-power-of-education-in-the-circular-economy)” took 1st place. 

### 9. Muti at Airports
The Circular Movement messenger was present at the main airports in Brazil. Check out its [awareness message](https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ckf_yOep-4f/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=) about the correct disposal of waste that circulated through São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Recife! 

### 10. Actions through Latin America!
![Encontros LATAM.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Encontros_LATAM_ea5a81310d/Encontros_LATAM_ea5a81310d.png)

We participated in several actions, lectures and events on the circular economy with our partners in Latin American countries. Represented by our education ambassador, Marisol del Toro Orozco. Among the most recent, the Circular Labs Talks it's the 2nd Circular Economy Symposium in Mexico, carried out in partnership with the Earth & Life University, about the challenges in implementing the Circular Economy.

You have read all of this and want to know more about what we do? You can visit the [news area ](https://movimentocircular.io/en/noticias)of our platform and follow our pages on Instagram in [Portuguese](https://www.instagram.com/_movimentocircular/) and [Spanish](https://www.instagram.com/_movimientocircular/).

You can also subscribe to our [newsletter](https://movimentocircular.io/en#newsletter) to always stay on top of our content and practical tips on how to build a world without waste!

And of course, we can't say goodbye to 2022 without thanking you for following us. 

**Let's go together for a **2023** even more circular? Happy Holidays!**

Check out the main actions we carried out this year, with partners in Brazil and Latin America 

2022 Circular Movement Retrospective

A Circular Economy initiative that takes students on educational trips with half the costs guaranteed by the sale of recyclable materials. This is the RecycleWays, a project by students at the Francisco Morato State Technical School (Etec), in Greater São Paulo, which was the winner of the São Paulo Circular Challenge 2022.

Since 2015 the RecycleWays mobilizes students, teachers and the community to recycle waste such as cooking oil, metal, plastic and electronic waste. Experience that was told by the group in the [video](https://youtu.be/q3MF73VwRfo) that won the top prize of the Challenge.

The project was chosen after nearly three months of the Circular Challenge initiative; event organized by Movimento Circular, in partnership with Dow and Coopercaps, with support from Centro Paula Souza and the government of São Paulo, to connect the circular agenda to schools in the state.

Come and learn about this winning initiative’s story!

<h3> From Francisco Morato (SP) to the world</h3>

It all started in 2015, when the school noticed the difficulty of many students of the business administration course to pay for a technical visit to the Port of Santos, part of the logistics discipline program.

The sustainability approach of this discipline generated the first insight to solve the problem: to raise funds through reverse logistics. This is what the RecycleWays advisor, Wagner Vieira, course coordinator, tells us.

“After brainstorming, we decided to revisit the purpose of the trip with payment being made with the sale of used cooking oil. So, we drew up a project in which this waste would be collected and sold, and the proceeds of this process would pay for the trip”.

![RecycleWays-viagem.jpeg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Recycle_Ways_viagem_a52add611b/Recycle_Ways_viagem_a52add611b.jpeg)

Francisco Morato's community embraced the cause. Residents donated waste and companies bought recyclables. Thus, the project grew and over 500 students were able to visit other sites and learn about the professional practice of waste recycling.

The year 2019, for example, was a milestone. That's when the Circular Economy initiative was named RecycleWays and took 42 students and seven teachers to Foz do Iguaçu (PR), Argentina and Paraguay. More than half of the costs were paid by selling recyclables. “The students worked hard for six months (...). It was the most daring experience in my professional career”, recalls Vieira.

Earlier this month, a delegation of 54 people, including students and educators took another trip to both countries by. This year alone, the project raised R$67,000 - R$35,000 of which came from the sale of recycled materials.

According to the students, this year RecycleWays gained version 2.0, which includes a new and larger space for the selection and sorting of recyclable materials and a greater number of materials. For them, the project goal has been achieved; Participants leave the experience transformed and ready to transform the world through the Circular Economy.

“Students at RecycleWays do exactly what is at the heart of the proposal that the Circular Movement wants to take to the world, which is to educate about the Circular Economy in order to transform reality. They show how education for the Circular Economy can bring about significant transformations, when the entire community is engaged”, says Vinicius Saraceni, Circular Movement coordinator.

<h3> And how about now with the awards?</h3>

The RecycleWays group will receive mentorship to improve the idea, visit Dow's Pack Studios (innovation and technology center), in Jundiaí (SP) and will have their material transformed into a video case, published on all Circular Movement channels. Inspiration to spare and more publicity to make this idea win the world!

<h3> Circular Movement and the planet thank you</h3>

We were very happy with the participation of all at the Circular Challenge São Paulo 2022, not only for being part of another chapter in this project, but also for how dedicated they were to developing super creative ideas for a world without waste.

Discover the other finalist projects in the Challenge (click on the links to learn more):

[Collect ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/bYfBk6DpJeTyoYf99)+, a team from Etec Jorge Street, in São Caetano do Sul, guided by teacher Ademir Joaquim Telles. (2nd place).

[From Trash to Shelf](https://youtu.be/2xIAWNspRB4) (3rd place), [Sustainable Cycle](https://youtu.be/Pf8_hbX2O44) (4th place) and [Friendly Paper](https://youtube.com/watch?v=gIERdPGe-j8&feature=share) (5th place). All from Etec Professor Jadyr Salles, from Porto Ferreira, guided by Teacher Maria Salete Zufelato Vencel.


**What is the circular economy?**

The Circular Economy proposes a new look at our way of producing, consuming, and disposing, in order to optimize the planet's resources and generate less and less waste. In other words, an alternative model to the Linear Economy - to extract, produce, use and discard - which has proved to be increasingly unsustainable throughout history. In the Circular Economy, the goal is to keep materials in circulation longer by reusing them until nothing becomes waste! For this model to become a reality, we all have a role to play. It is a true collaborative circle, which feeds itself, and helps to regenerate the planet and our relations.

**Learn about Circular Economy**

If you are interested in learning more about this topic, visit [Circular Academy](https://academy.movimentocircular.io/?lang=en), the first free Latin American course on circular economy aimed at general audiences. All of us, in partnership and collaboration, can make a difference in building a more circular planet.

 The power of education in the Circular Economy

The impact of Circular Economy through education and culture within a local context is capable of transforming the community. And the best thing is to see this transformation happen in partnership, like the one we signed in 2022 with the Francesco Zomer Institute (IFZ).

The social branch of FCO Group, a packaging solution company, has been carrying out free sociocultural work for over 15 years in the city of Orleans (SC), where the company's headquarters are located.

*"It is an institution that offers its community the teaching of music, dance and professional education; a work developed in a serious manner for the local community"*, describes the coordinator of the Circular Movement, Vinicius Saraceni.

It was through it that, in Orleans - and afterwards in the neighboring Lauro Muller community -, that ideas and projects for sustainability were born and put into practice starting from the [pedagogical contents of the Circular Movement](https://movimentocircular.io/en/educacao ) and from the involvement of the Institute with the local community, having as a starting point, besides the institute itself, the city’s schools.

Are we going to find out more about the fruits of this partnership?

<h3> From classrooms to the community</h3>

The first step taken by the Francesco Zomer Institute was to plan a front for information activities at the school units in Orleans.

In meetings with directors and teachers, the Institute's team presented the educational platform of the Circular Movement, showing how to access and explore the content.

From then on, the teaching staff was ready to work in the classroom. The director and treasurer of the IFZ, Marcelo Lole, offers more details of this dynamic:

"Students begin by learning the basic concepts of the Circular Economy through the educational content in the Movement platform. Afterwards, spaces are created for reflection, discussion and the creation of project proposals, bringing together the entire school community. And so, with the supervision of the Institute, the projects can go into practice in the day to day life of the city".

Have a look at what is already working with the project in this partnership with the IFZ in schools:

- At the Costa Carneiro School of Basic Education, students collect plastic caps that are sold to a recycling company. The funds are donated to an NGO that supports the city’s abandoned animals.

- The Unibave School has the "Ecos" project that collects plastic caps and can seals for the purchase of wheelchairs. 

- Samuel Sandrini School of Basic Education has created a project for the reuse of recyclable materials developed by teachers and pupils in elementary education.

- In addition to carrying out a recycling and composting project, Ser Educação Infantil School promotes the awareness of local public authorities for the enactment of public policies aligned with the selective collection of waste. 

- And the *Lauro Pacheco dos Reis School of Basic Education* carries out activities related to recycling, such as the separation of dry and organic waste in the school and neighborhood trash bins where it is located.

Pretty cool, huh? *"These school units are currently impacting more than 1,300 people through their sustainable actions, helping to make the Circular Economy increasingly present in the daily lives of families as well*", Lole tells us.

<h3> Movement also in Lauro Muller´s Schools</h3>

![MC_IFZ.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/MC_IFZ_7cf98f3b26/MC_IFZ_7cf98f3b26.jpg)

The Francesco Zomer Institute also managed to expand Orleans' project to the schools of Lauro Muller, a nearby town.

In September, the partnership between the Movement and the IFZ with the schools of Lauro Muller was formalized in the city hall of the municipality, with the participation of directors and the team of the Education Board. There was an online lecture by the pedagogical coordinator of the Circular Movement, Professor Dr. Edson Grandisoli and the teachers were able to know, discuss and reflect on Circular Economy and the contents of the Movement platform.

"*The partnership signed between the institute and the schools in the municipality of Lauro Müller with the Circular Movement will expand and strengthen a network of action and cooperation in the transformation of the linear economy into circular economy, or that is to say, a sustainable format*'', believes Marcelo Lole.

<h3> Art for circularity</h3>

Besides the action with the schools, within the IFZ, the pedagogical team is looking to bring the content of the Circular Movement also to the day-to-day of the music, dance and professional training courses that have already been offered to more than 6,000 students, since its foundation in 2007.

Art and circularity have everything to do with it. That's what Lole believes. "Art provides the capacity to appreciate the beautiful, and to do good, this justifies the connection of our projects with the Circular Economy that dialogs with all ludically educational spheres", the institute's treasurer justifies.

**What is the circular economy?**

The Circular Economy proposes a new look at our way of producing, consuming, and disposing, in order to optimize the planet's resources and generate less and less waste. In other words, an alternative model to the Linear Economy - to extract, produce, use and discard - which has proved to be increasingly unsustainable throughout history. In the Circular Economy, the goal is to keep materials in circulation longer by reusing them until nothing becomes waste! For this model to become a reality, we all have a role to play. It is a true collaborative circle, which feeds itself, and helps to regenerate the planet and our relations.

**Learn about Circular Economy**

If you are interested in learning more about this topic, visit [Circular Academy](https://academy.movimentocircular.io/?lang=en), the first free Latin American course on circular economy aimed at general audiences. All of us, in partnership and collaboration, can make a difference in building a more circular planet.

Partnership with Orleans institution (SC) promotes Circular Economy practices in the city through school

Circular Movement in Santa Catarina schools

**Recycling** is important, **repurposing**is necessary, but **rethinking and reducing consumption is essential**. Do you understand the difference? The circular economy’s proposal is to optimize the planet's resources and generate less and less waste, so if we buy less and make materials that are already in use circulate longer, fewer resources will be extracted to create new things and less waste will be produced. 

What does this have to do with the holidays? Answer: A lot! 

How many things do you usually buy at this time of year? There is Black Friday, promotions, Christmas gifts, secret Santa, souvenirs, giveaways for customers and employees, new clothes, furniture and electronics, renovations, suppers, decoration... The list is quite long, isn't it?

Mankind turns 91.4% of everything it produces into trash (according to the [Circularity Gap Report](https://www.circularity-gap.world)). Throughout the year, 30% of all the waste generated in Brazil is made up of packaging items ([data from the Akatu Institute](https://akatu.org.br/natal-e-data-ideal-para-pratica-do-consumo-consciente)). In 2021 alone, 17% of food ended up in the trash ([UN data](https://movimentocircular.io/pt/noticias/fome-no-brasil-x-desperdicio-e-a-economia-circular)). Now, can you imagine how much all this increases towards the end of the year? 

The more consumption, the more waste and the more greenhouse gases are generated, which are responsible for climate changes. 

What if this Christmas we first ponder if we really need to consume all this? 

***"It’s the first Christmas in two years that we hope we can bring together everyone we love, even the farthest away. What if we focus on valuing peoples’ companies more than buying things? Or if we are going to really buy stuff, do so in a more informed and conscious way? One of the ways is to buy from companies that really take up socio-environmental commitments, such as, for example, investing or donating part of the profits of this period in activities that value circularity and sustainability", explains Professor Dr. Edson Grandisoli, Pedagogical Coordinator of the Circular Movement**.*

This change in positioning is not as difficult as it seems. Only two steps can make your holiday celebrations even more meaningful and significant, inspiring and even cost-effective: **information** and **planning**! Do you want to know how? We'll help you on this mission!

We've selected some conscious consumption practices to inspire your holiday season:

#### Giving gifts generating less waste

- There are gifts of a symbolic nature, such as donations and doing good deeds together.
- How about going for a ride together?
- Do you have a vegetable garden at home? How about giving a basket of vegetables or even seedlings?
- Do you have any fruit available? How about making homemade sweets and putting them in repurposed jars?
- Do you have a delicious cookie recipe? Children will love to receive a present in a beautiful packaging that you have recycled yourself.

#### Renovate the house without buying anything

- What if you fix what's broken instead of buying brand-new stuff?
- You can transform what you have at home by repaginating and renovating furniture and decoration. The internet offers plenty of inspirations! Meet the Raísa Guerra <inserir link em “Ráisa Guerra”: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgkmkNQjC1Z/>.
- How about donating or trading clothes at thrift shops and bazaars or even among friends? As well as objects and books on used book stores, for example.
- Instead of buying a plastic tree, how about decorating your own plants using the same lights and ornaments from previous years?
- Are you sick and tired of your Christmas ornaments? Have you ever considered trading them with relatives and close friends?

#### Eating and celebrating with less impact

- Planning how many people will eat and having a shopping list, you can avoid leftovers and waste.
- Use non-disposable plates and glasses.
- You can generate less packaging by buying the products in bulk.
- Bringing your own shopping bag generates less discarded plastic.
- What if we use seasonal fruit, national produce and local food? 
- Buying from local producers and sellers gets even better! 
- How about home cooking? Generates less packaging and transportation. 
- What if we share food and make the joy of those who cannot have supper?
- Still, there'll be organic leftovers... so we can compost!

#### And at the time of purchase...

- How about giving priority to local, durable, reusable or recyclable products that have little or no packaging and come from socio-environmentally responsible companies?
- You can invest in local crafts, especially recycled or natural fragrance and refills, for example. 
- Wrapping can be flaps of fabric you have at home, cloths that can be used for cleaning, recycled paper or repurposed giftwraps from other previous parties.

We spent the whole year inviting everyone to build together a world without waste. In this time of celebrating the achievements of the year, love and hope, let's not forget our purpose, shall we? It is worth having a Circular Christmas and maintaining this practice throughout the year! 

**What is the circular economy?**

The Circular Economy proposes a new look at our way of producing, consuming, and disposing, in order to optimize the planet's resources and generate less and less waste. In other words, an alternative model to the Linear Economy - to extract, produce, use and discard - which has proved to be increasingly unsustainable throughout history. In the Circular Economy, the goal is to keep materials in circulation longer by reusing them until nothing becomes waste! For this model to become a reality, we all have a role to play. It is a true collaborative circle, which feeds itself, and helps to regenerate the planet and our relations.

**Learn about Circular Economy**

If you are interested in learning more about this topic, visit [Circular Academy](https://academy.movimentocircular.io/?lang=en), the first free Latin American course on circular economy aimed at general audiences. All of us, in partnership and collaboration, can make a difference in building a more circular planet.

The great challenge of the time is to dodge consumerism

Can you celebrate the end of the year in a circular manner?

Have you noticed that your city works more or less like a living organism?

With attention, you can see it taking up matter, energy, and generating waste in a kind of "metabolism".

Since 2007, there are more people living in the urban environment than in the countryside. Cities today are responsible for consuming about 75% of extracted natural resources, and for 60% to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, according to the UN.

And this “metabolism” is based on an unsustainable model: the linear economy. In other words, resources are overexploited, and reuse and recycling rates are low, which causes the accumulation of waste and leads our natural reserves to scarcity.

Since 2014, the UN has celebrated, on October 31, the **World Day of Cities**, seeking to gather examples and discuss actions for “greener, equitable and sustainable cities” and, why not, “more circular cities”.

For **urban planning** that takes these goals into account, understanding **urban metabolism** is one of the main tools. Shall we understand more about it?

## What is Urban Metabolism?
![MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_05.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_05_9c09f1748b/MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_05_9c09f1748b.png)

It is the analysis and understanding of the processes that take place in cities from their flows of **raw materials, energy and nutrients**.

This analysis makes it clearer how the city receives the resources, transforms and discards them as waste, which results in a panorama for actions that turn these wastes into inputs for other processes, in a **circular metabolism**. (The similarity with what already happens in nature is no coincidence).

Hence, if the government and other sectors of society invest in technologies and educational programs to enable this cycle and engage the population, the influence can reach other cities in the best of a local-changing-the-global action.

If we study water, for example, we realize how much resource could be returned to the city itself - and to nature - with a sewage treatment that converts the by-products of this processing into energy for homes and nutrients for agriculture.

Studies based on the precepts of the Circular Economy already detect some more specific issues for each flow of urban metabolism. Shall we see some examples?

#### Raw materials and Civil Construction
![MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_03.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_03_c65716e03e/MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_03_c65716e03e.png)

The impact of civil construction on the environment and on people occurs on several fronts, one of which is the inadequate disposal of rubble.

If poorly managed, these wastes can harm the city by silting up rivers, obstructing roads and the proliferation of diseases caused by biological vectors.

And how can this be solved?

In a circular city, waste processing centers would transform whatever is left over at construction sites into resources to supply the entire city.

The sector is also increasingly aware of sustainable practices and products for construction, such as bio concrete, a product composed of bacteria and fungi that give “regenerative” properties to the raw material.

Another example involves modular structures, with parts that fit together and can be dismantled, enlarged or reduced, generating less waste.

#### Energy and Decarbonization
![MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_04.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_04_8a6b35664f/MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_04_8a6b35664f.png)

The consumption of fossil fuels in cities may happen in households, industrial parks and by motor vehicles, among others. We have historically created a great dependence on this means of obtaining energy.

But how to decarbonize the urban environment and guarantee clean and cheap energy for everyone?

One of the answers is to plan an energy grid that is predominantly powered by renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.

Moreover, solar energy does not have only solar panels as a way to take advantage of the resource. There is another even more sophisticated one: photosynthesis.

Several studies are being carried out around the world, exploring, for example, the photosynthesis of algae. The process in these plants generates free electrons that can be captured by electrodes, generating electricity.

#### Nutrients and Quality Food 
![MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_02.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_02_3f914bca06/MC_News_cidades_sustentaveisl_02_3f914bca06.png)

One of the major pollution problems in cities is soil degradation. This happens in several ways, such as through the accumulation of waste in city dumps and acid rain.
It is urgent to find a way to keep the soils alive, since it is through them that we can guarantee quality food for everyone.

There are already small-scale practices that can not only help conserve soil but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. How?

An example is if all organic waste that today goes to the trash bin goes back to the earth as a nutrient through composting.

Another measure would be to bring agricultural areas closer to cities. By reducing the distance between the countryside and the city, transport powered by fossil fuels emits fewer polluting gases and reduces the waste of food that ends up spoiling in this transport.

#### Sustainable Development Goals

It is worth remembering that the search for a city more committed to circular metabolism is related to one of the essential aspects of the SDG 11 .

“By 2030, reduce the per capita negative environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality, municipal waste management and others,” the document says.
In doing so, and finding additional ways, it is possible to ensure an increasingly circular urban metabolism, collaborating with the environment, people and all other forms of life that live in it, depend on or are influenced by it.

--

**What is the circular economy?**

The Circular Economy proposes a new look at our way of producing, consuming, and disposing, in order to optimize the planet's resources and generate less and less waste. In other words, an alternative model to the Linear Economy - to extract, produce, use and discard - which has proved to be increasingly unsustainable throughout history. In the Circular Economy, the goal is to keep materials in circulation longer by reusing them until nothing becomes waste! For this model to become a reality, we all have a role to play. It is a true collaborative circle, which feeds itself, and helps to regenerate the planet and our relations.

**Learn about Circular Economy**

If you are interested in learning more about this topic, visit [**Circular Academy**](https://academy.movimentocircular.io/?lang=en), the first free Latin American course on circular economy aimed at general audiences. All of us, in partnership and collaboration, can make a difference in building a more circular planet.

On World Cities Day, let's figure out how the urban environment must be understood from the flows of raw materials, energy and nutrients, in order to make it more circular.

Cities and Urban Metabolism

When someone knows the [Circular Movement](https://movimentocircular.io/educacao) (MC), a very special being soon comes to spark imagination, curiosity and the will to change the world.

You won if you thought of **“Muti”**.

We even talk a little bit about him here on our platform, but the time has come to know the history of our interplanetary messenger and the friends he has been making on Earth.

On this Children's Day (10/12), the CM launches *The Fabulous Journey of Muti and the Libelautas*. **our very first book**, dedicated to children and teenagers and their tutors. In a fun, inspiring and 'muti-colorful' manner, the purpose of the book is to introduce basic concepts of citizenship and the [Circular Economy](https://movimentocircular.io/educacao).

“The book empowers children as it puts the characters in the spotlight. Using playful resources, it presents the environmental problem and conflicts inherent to life in society, while bringing an inspiring vision of a world in which everyone collaborates for the good of the planet and mankind”, comments Diana Salles, CM's content manager.

Want to know more about this adventure? Read on….

###  A Journey of Citizenship

![Imagem dentro matéria.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Imagem_dentro_materia_9f5c64d05f/Imagem_dentro_materia_9f5c64d05f.png)

*The Fabulous Journey of Muti and the Libelautas* is the first in a series of books with stories starring the characters Trix, Cauã, Júlia and Jorge, the kids who are members of the so-called ‘Libelautas Club'.

About to carry out their first mission, the group receives an intergalactic visit from Muti and, then, they begin to face the first challenges to put into practice the actions to build a world without garbage, starting with the neighborhood plaza.

The story is a creation of the writer and playwright Claudia Pucci, who with this publication, makes her debut in the children's universe.

“I have always wanted to write for children and since childhood I have had a very strong relationship with the environmental matters. When the invitation [from the CM] came, I was very happy. It was a way of putting art in terms of something that is very dear to me”, says Pucci.

Pucci, who lives in the Butantã neighborhood, western region of the city of São Paulo, reveals that the neighborhood's squares were a great inspiration for the setting of the story. “I follow movements that take place in the squares, they are great meeting points for very different people”, he comments.

And to illustrate this whole scenario, no one is more suitable than “Muti's father”, the illustrator and graphic designer, Thiago Egg, who already has extensive experience with children's stories and comics and who is part of the CM team.

In partnership with Pucci, Egg helped give traits and colors to the characters that emerged in a very spontaneous way in the exchange of ideas. “I am very proud of Muti and I believe that as a messenger of the movement he still has a lot to show us”, he anticipates.  

### Partnerships that made it happen

Initially, the distribution of the first edition of *The Fabulous Journey of Muti and the Libelautas* will be exclusive to partners in motion whose support was invaluable in getting the book out. There will be 1,300 copies that will reach the community of collaborators at **3M, Clean Plastic, Instituto Francesco Zomer, Lord and Scania.**

Soon, the general public will be able to enjoy the editions of the work, which should even become a pedagogical project for schools throughout Latin America.

There are still many stories to be told until it reaches the whole world, in new books, pedagogical actions and, who knows, other media. In this adventure, we make our own the words of the character Júlia, from ‘Libelautas Club':

*“Hello, all infinite worlds of all infinite spaces! We invite you to participate in our mission...”*

Follow us here in our news area
We are all libelautas!



Movimento Circular launches the first children's book with an adventure inspired by the Muti mascot

The Fabulous Journey of Muti and the Libelautas

Innovative Ideas and a lot of collaboration marked the 2nd Circular Movement (CM) Partner Meeting. Held on August 30th and 31st, the event brought together more than 70 partners and guests from Brazil and Latin America representing companies, organizations and educational institutions to celebrate 2 years of the initiative for a world without waste.

On the first day of the meeting, we held the Circular Experience, a hands-on event in São Paulo that took place at the headquarters of the selective collection cooperative named Coopercaps, a partner of the Movement.

![Movimento Circular_004.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Movimento_Circular_004_a04765b7bf/Movimento_Circular_004_a04765b7bf.jpg)

Highlight on this occasion was the announcement of our first partner in the transport industry: the vehicle manufacturer Scania Latin America, represented at the event by Viviane Lunardi, co-responsible for the company's circularity projects.

![Movimento Circular_012.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Movimento_Circular_012_d7b03bf6c0/Movimento_Circular_012_d7b03bf6c0.jpg)

There were very rich moments of collaborative activities, networking, showcasing circular practices applied in waste management in industries, educational initiatives and discussions on new strategies in favor of the Circular Economy. Shall we see them?

<h3> Circular Experience: hands-on activities, Muti & Caps space and Circular Challenge</h3>

São Paulo, August 30 - Held in partnership with Coopercaps and Dow Brasil, the Circular Experience was the first face-to-face meeting between partners and the MC team after the worst period of the pandemic. An opportunity that expanded the potential for relationships and co-creation amongst participants in the day's activities.

“The idea is that together we can build a world without waste, and this 'together', when in person, has a better result”, points out the CEO of Movimento Circular and presenter of the event, Vinicius Saraceni.

This could be seen in one of the most engaging and lively moments of the event: the tour of the Coopercaps circular system. Participants were literally 'hands-on' to understand the recycling chain. “Everyone took on a role, from sorting waste on the industrial mat to collaborating with cleaning the space”, says the manager of Movimento Circular, Marina Amorim.

![Atividade Coopercaps_066.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Atividade_Coopercaps_066_b8c40892e0/Atividade_Coopercaps_066_b8c40892e0.jpg)

We also inaugurated the Muti & Caps Educational Circuit, which ranges from graffiti art made on more than 150 meters of wall at Coopercaps to a complementary guide for monitoring the educational content of the play by schools and others interested in the subject. The art illustrates the entire dynamics of circularity and recycling until the products are returned to the public.

![Atividade Coopercaps_020.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Atividade_Coopercaps_020_e5f36d387f/Atividade_Coopercaps_020_e5f36d387f.jpg)

More than 50 attendees representing areas such as industrial, government, education, post-consumption, in addition to special guests interested in learning about the initiative.

“It was a very diverse audience and complementary to the entire chain of circularity. We had participants who even came from outside the State of São Paulo, which showed the interest and engagement of the partners”, concluded Saraceni.

![Desafio Circularidade_15.jpg](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/Desafio_Circularidade_15_809afe717b/Desafio_Circularidade_15_809afe717b.jpg)

And more: to connect the circular agenda with the curriculum of public and private schools in São Paulo, we launched, in Circular Experience, the São Paulo Circular Challenge 2022, an educational journey for students and teachers in a cycle of learning and action, creating ideas to solve city problems from the Circular Economy.

Registration is open and continues until the 09/15 using this [link](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDblrXdhkZVunsqzylMs2I4cVeO_QuKCJk3wonihM_fvEcaQ/viewform). This is a partnership between MC, Dow Brasil, Coopercaps, Centro Paula Souza and the Government of São Paulo.

<h3> Online meeting reinforces integration among Latin American partners</h3>

Argentina, Colombia and Mexico; August 31 – With the participation of 29 members, the 2nd Meeting of Circular Movement Partners in Latin America, in partnership with Dow, brought together companies from the plastics industry and universities in an online event in integration activities and sharing of ideas.

![2 Encontro de Parceiros_LATAM.png](https://storage.googleapis.com/movimento_circular/Strapi/2_Encontro_de_Parceiros_LATAM_50d0fd56a5/2_Encontro_de_Parceiros_LATAM_50d0fd56a5.png)

“As many already knew each other since the first meeting, this allowed for a greater interaction and relationship of trust for joint projects conceived at the time”, says the MC's educational ambassador in Mexico, Marisol Del Toro, who led the meeting.

Above all, actions in favor of circularity in the management of plastic in companies were highlighted, such as the redesign of products and packaging to make post-consumption recycling feasible.

To conclude, the partners were divided into two virtual rooms to discuss ideas, analyzing issues such as creating spaces for exchange between partners and their community, disseminating knowledge about Circular Economy and enhancing the spread of actions on social media.

In two days, the event brought a special program to celebrate the 2 years of the initiative

 2nd  Meeting of Circular Movement Partners 

It's a month to celebrate! In August we celebrate two years of Circular Movement! 
In that time, we became the largest open education initiative for the circular economy in Latin America and a reference on the matter for the world.

Our multisectoral initiative, made up of people, organizations and public authorities, is increasingly committed to contributing - through education and culture - to the transition to circularity. We reached different countries and continents, through projects, events, courses and the educational content that we have promoted together.

In two years, over 709 thousand people have already been impacted by the Circular Movement. A number that continues to grow. 

**We put circular economy on the press agenda**

Our reach multiplies more and more, if we add the over 400 inserts in the press, through interviews, reports and articles signed by Circular Movement spokespersons and ambassadors. We have become a reference in circular economy for hundreds of websites, blogs, social networks, podcasts, radio, TV, newspapers and magazines. An expansion of the educational potential of Circular Movement, sharing concepts and ways to practice circularity with the most varied audiences.

"The circular economy is a concept that is far from people's lives, although many already put it into practice in their daily lives without knowing it. Communicating its bases and practices is essential to engage and inspire even more people and sectors to take action in order to create a fairer and more sustainable present and future", holds professor Edson Grandisoli, Pedagogical Coordinator of Circular Movement, on the potential of this reach via the press. 

**We take the Circular Economy around the world!**

We have paved the way for a waste-free world with the collaboration of our partners and ambassadors in various countries. In two years, more than 50 actions were carried out together with 48 partners in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia. 

The results of the Circular Challenge that we carried out in Mexico, in partnership with the Centro Tecnológico de Monterrey, became an article and were presented at the Global Engineering Education conference (EDUCON 2022), in Tunisia in addition to the presentations we made at events with partners in Argentina and Colombia. 

“We have a very important partnership with Earth & Life University, through which we were able to carry out various actions focused on education and the dissemination of Circular Movement at institutions in different countries, as with our participation in other events, such as the forum to promote circularity in the plastic resins sector, promoted by Mexico`s National Association of the Chemical Industry in September 2021. Also in Mexico, we participated in the International Forum on Sustainable Economy in June 2022”, comments the Mexican Ambassador of Circular Movement, Professor Marisol Del Toro Orozco.

**MC arrives in Rwanda, on the African continent** 

The message for a waste-free world has crossed the globe and is reaching Africa. We are in the joining phase of a partnership in Rwanda. 
“The Circular Movement content is becoming a reference and being used by large institutions around the world, our platform was used in a course offered to players in the food industry on the African continent, I believe that we will soon have our first partner on the African continent and in the very near future, on other continents as well”, highlights Vinicius Saraceni, coordinator of Circular Movement. 

In Brazil, we took part in the First Circular Economy Week in São Paulo and in Virada Sustentável, the main sustainability festival in Brazil. We promoted the 2nd edition of the Prize for a World without Waste, in partnership with Febrace (Brazilian Science and Engineering Fair). We also transformed Muti, Circular Movement messenger, into a character in a movie that was seen by more than 55,000 people in the country's main cinemas.


“In these two years, we are realizing that our partners are willing to act in the promotion of education for the circular economy, with their employees and community, we have noticed great maturity in the proposals and actions that are being planned and executed. We have several autonomous initiatives that are being developed by these partners with the support of our pedagogical content and with great success. In two years, we have become a reference, even for the press, when it comes to circular economy”, explains Vinicius Saraceni. 


**Circular Economy Content and Education Hub**

The Circular Movement online platform has just been updated and has a new look. It has established itself as a trilingual space for content and education in Circular Economy, in Portuguese, Spanish and English. We had more than 235,000 hits to the website and 10,000 downloads of the educational resources that we created and that can be worked with elementary and high school students, companies and anyone interested in learning about circularity.

At Circular Academy, our open circular economy school, launched in September 2021, we have already had more than 1,100 enrollments for the “*Introduction to the Circular Economy*” course. More and more people are learning how it is possible to transform the planet into a world without waste!

We have achieved many things together in these first two years and we have prepared news for this new cycle, which will reach even more places and people! Learn all about what we've achieved in the [full report](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTth5VN448rbw6OH7yOlYx6WAxtBnVDoPyXSevpBPEDBxTwHWRzT4Z7hz800NrtoqdvL6EFcC_FM3XI/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000).

Therefore, we have an invitation: 

**- What if you also joined the Circular Movement to be part of the construction of a world without waste?**

Visit our website [www.thecircularmovement.io](www.thecircularmovement.io) and check out everything we can do together! 

We are already the largest open education initiative for the circular economy in Latin America and a reference on the topic for the world

News to circulate

World Enviromental Education Day

Latest news

World Enviromental Education Day

2022 Circular Movement Retrospective

The power of education in the Circular Economy

Circular Movement in Santa Catarina schools

Can you celebrate the end of the year in a circula...

Cities and Urban Metabolism

The Fabulous Journey of Muti and the Libelautas

2nd Meeting of Circular Movement Partners

Circular Movement celebrates 2 years